Riverside State Park

No trip to Spokane is complete without a stop at Riverside State Park. Approximately 9 miles from Spokane, Riverside provides recreational opportunities for almost every type of visitor. From mountain biking to horseback riding, rock climbing, hiking and snowmobiling, Riverside has it all, if you have time!

Riverside State Park occupies 12,000 acres along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers just north of Spokane. With nearly 200,000 feet of shoreline, Riverside is the home to Ponderosa pines, lakes, marshes and a wide variety of wildlife.

You can go as easy or hardcore as you like here. Fifty-five miles of trails will keep hikers and mountain bikers busy. The 40-mile, mixed-use Spokane River Centennial State Park Trail extends from Nine Mile Recreation Area east to the Idaho border. Equestrians will find a horse-friendly campground, 25 miles of trails and an obstacle course with a 60-foot round pen. Off-road vehicle drivers have 600 acres of special terrain. The Little Spokane River welcomes paddlesports enthusiasts (and prohibits inner tubes, bikes and pets). Lake Spokane invites boaters, anglers and water sports fans. And, for those who equate vacation with relaxation, day-use areas, picnic shelters and four different campgrounds offer solid family and camp chair time.

In winter, Riverside is also a prime recreation hub, boasting some of the best snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling east of the Cascades.

Riverside has deep historical significance as a gathering place for Native American tribes, and as a thriving fur trade hub. Most recently, the Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the park’s structures, including the suspension bridge across the Spokane River at the Bowl and Pitcher.

Riverside is close to the restaurants, shops and coffee stops of Spokane. Indeed, Riverside State Park has everything a traveler could want, except more vacation time.

Automated pay station: This park is equipped with an automated pay station for visitors to purchase a one-day or annual Discover Pass.

ADA amenities/facilities

Picnic & day-use facilities

Riverside State Park offers two kitchen shelters without electricity, plus 10 sheltered and 122 unsheltered picnic tables available first come, first served.

A kitchen shelter with electricity is reservable online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. This shelter is built of logs and provides a wood stove, sink, and eight picnic tables, accommodating a maximum of 50 people.

The Nine Mile Recreation Area offers three non-reservable kitchen shelters with electricity. Two accommodate up to 40 guests, one accommodates up to 20 guests. The day-use area and boat launch are open April 15 through Oct. 15.

Activities

Trails

55 miles of hiking trails

One mile of ADA-accessible hiking trail

55 miles of bike trails

25 miles of horse trails

Water activities & features

120 feet of dock

Boating

Three boat ramps

Fishing (freshwater)

Water skiing

White-water kayaking

Winter recreation

Cross-country skiing

Snowmobiling

Snowshoeing

Snow play

Other activities & features

Amphitheater

All-terrain vehicles permitted

Bird watching

Three fire circles

Interpretive activities

Mountain biking

Museum

Rock climbing

Wildlife viewing

Interpretive opportunities

The Spokane House Interpretive Center at Nine Mile Falls tells the history of the early fur trade in the area and its effects on the Native American population. The center is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day. An interpretive trail in Riverside State Park features guide-posts and a self-guiding brochure connecting the Indian Painted Rocks area with the mouth of the Little Spokane River. A kiosk at the site of Seven Mile camp tells the story of the Civilian Conservation Corps and its role in building the park.

Additional information

The park provides a 600-acre off-road vehicle area for dirt bikes and snowmobiles and more than 37 miles for bike riding on the Centennial Trail, as well as other bike trails.

All-terrain vehicles are only permitted in the off-road vehicle area.

An equestrian area features several hundred acres with loop trails and 40 miles of linear trails for horseback riding.

Boating features

Located on the Spokane River in Spokane County, Riverside State Park has three watercraft launches and 120 feet of dock. The Little Spokane River is restricted to kayaks, canoes, and rafts. Inner tubes are not allowed. The Spokane River is hazardous in places and should not be run without local knowledge.

Launching a boat at a state park requires one of the following:• An annual launch permit (Natural Investment Permit); or• An annual Discover Pass and a daily launch permit; or• A one-day Discover Pass and a daily launch permit.

A daily watercraft launching permit for $7 and a trailer dumping permit for $5 is available at the park.

Annual launch permits may be purchased at Washington State Parks Headquarters in Olympia, at region offices, online, and at parks when staff is available.

Canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards can be rented at the Nine Mile Recreation Area for $40 a day or $25 for two hours, from May 15 to Sept. 15.

Boat launch

Campsite information

Bowl and Pitcher campground has 16 standard campsites, 16 utility hookup sites with electricity and water, one dump station, and two restrooms (both with showers). Maximum site length is 45 feet (may have limited availability). Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For Bowl and Pitcher campsite maps, visit the reservation system.

Equestrian campground has 10 equestrian campsites with corrals. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Nine Mile Recreation Area has three tent sites and 21 RV sites of varying length. The sites are available May 15 through Sept. 15. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For Nine Mile Falls campsite maps, visit the reservation system.

Lake Spokane campground has 11 primitive campsites and is available May 15 through Sept. 15. There are also four first come first serve boat-in only campsites available on Lake Spokane. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For Nine Mile Falls campsite maps, visit the reservation system.

Group accommodations

The Bowl and Pitcher campground has two group camp areas that accommodate 40 to 60 tent campers. Fees are based on the number of campers, with a minimum of 20. For more information, call the park at (509) 465-5064. Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688.

Reservations & fees

Reservations can be made online or by calling (888) CAMPOUT or (888) 226-7688. For fee information, check out our camping rates page.

Services & supplies

Ice is available for purchase at the park. Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the Nine Mile Recreation Area for $25 a day from May 15 to Sept. 15.